Champions League: Atletico beats Chelsea to set up Madrid derby final

Chelsea and Atletico Madrid locked horns in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal tie following a 0-0 draw in the Spanish capital last week.

Atletico almost took an early lead when Koke's looping effort smashed against the crossbar with Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer beaten.

David Luiz went close to opening the scoring for Chelsea when his acrobatic overhead kick sailed just past the post.

Chelsea finally made the breakthrough nine minutes before the interval when Fernando Torres fired home from inside the penalty area. Torres, who began his career at Atletico, refused to celebrate but the rest of his teammates enjoyed his strike.

Atletico pulled level with just a minute of normal time remaining when Adrian Lopez netted following good work by Juanfran.

Diego Costa gave Atletico the lead from the penalty spot on 60 minutes after he was fouled by Samuel Eto'o.

Arda Turan wrapped up the victory and sealed Atletico's place in the final by netting the rebound after his original effort had cannoned off the crossbar.

Tonight, after a performance which helped to write another chapter in one of the season's most romantic fairy tales, Atletico Madrid allowed itself to dream of its own special one -- La Primera -- the first.

Atletico, for so long a club living in the shadow of city rival Real, has the opportunity to make history not just at home but also on the European stage.

Four points clear at the top of La Liga with three games remaining and a clash with Real to decide the destiny of the Champions League trophy to come in Lisbon on May 24, this is turning out to be some season for Atletico.

"It's a dream," Atletico midfielder Tiago told Sky Sports.

"We have a great spirit, we are a great team, we all work together, now we are in the final in Lisbon, the dreams can be true.

"It is not easy to play here, we know that. But we knew Chelsea had to play more.

"We know we are very good away from home. After our goal Chelsea went down a bit, but we were confident and now we are there.

"We know Real Madrid is a fantastic team with great players. They can win the game in any action but we are there. Last year we won the Cup in their stadium so we are confident."

Not since 1996 has Los Rojiblancos won the domestic title but managed by Diego Simeone, who was part of that team 18 years ago, it now stands on the brink of history.

Simeone, who presides over a budget nearly five times smaller than Real, has worked wonders but perhaps even would not have expected his players to record such an impressive victory.

To score three goals away from home in European competition is a marked achievement, but to do so against Chelsea, a team whose defense has been so miserly in the competition, is staggering.

Chelsea, derided for its defensive tactics and considered an "enemy of football" by some because of its negative approach, has already answered its critics on numerous occasions this season.

A fine victory at Liverpool on Sunday proved once again that Mourinho's tactics, however unpalatable, gain results.

But on this occasion, the solidity and cohesion which had caused such frustration in Madrid last week, was missing.

The dour goalless draw in the opening leg led to plenty of accusations that Chelsea had not attempted to win the game but simply stifle Atletico.

There is no doubt that Mourinho has been hurt by the criticism and hit back at his detractors by claiming that "at this moment, football is full of philosophers."

While everybody appears to have an opinion on Chelsea's defensive approach, Mourinho sticks to the belief which has made him a serial winner -- winning at all costs.

The prospect of facing his former employer, Real Madrid, in the final added another subplot to an already intriguing tie.

Eden Hazard, back from injury, was restored to the side, and Chelsea, often so adroit at scraping through tight contests, appeared confident.

Yet it was the visitors who began the brighter of the two.

Atletico, on the brink of the domestic title and chasing a place in the final for the first time in 40 years, played with a sense of purpose and came within inches of taking an early lead.

Koke, influential throughout, aimed what looked like a cross towards goal only for the ball to sail over Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and smash against the crossbar.

Chelsea responded with David Luiz's overhead kick sailing just wide of the far post as the home side stepped up the pressure.

And with 11 minutes of the first half remaining, the home side finally made the breakthrough.

Sergio Ramos was the unlikely hero for Real Madrid, scoring twice in four minutes during a frantic first half. Ramos headed home Luka Modric's corner on 16 minutes to give his side a 1-0 lead on the night, 2-0 on aggregate.

Ramos claimed his second soon after, finding space inside the Bayern penalty area to plant his header firmly past Manuel Neuer from close range.

Cristiano Ronaldo added a third 11 minutes before the interval after finishing off a sweeping move involving Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

Ronaldo has scored 16 goals in this season's Champions League competition -- the highest ever recorded.

Ronaldo scored his second of the game late on with a free-kick which flew beneath the Bayern wall and capped an astonishing 4-0 win on the night, a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Rampant Ramos

Easy pickings

Roaming Ronaldo

Goal machine

Final word

HIDE CAPTION

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

>

>>

Bayern vs Real Madrid

Dani Alves has been applauded for his response to being racially abused during a football match. The Barcelona player had a banana thrown at him during Sunday's game at Villarreal, so he picked it up and took a bite out of it before continuing to play.

Alves' Barcelona and Brazil teammate Neymar was full of praise for his actions. Neymar tweeted: "Dani Alves owned him. Take that bunch of racists. We are all monkeys so what."

AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng suffered abuse from fans friendly match against Pro Patria in January 3, 2013. Boateng stormed off the pitch after being subjected to racist chants.

Dani Alves bites back

Star support

Boateng's protest

HIDE CAPTION

<<

<

1

2

3

>

>>

Dani Alves bites back

Brazil forward Neymar is tipped to be one of the stars of the 2014 World Cup. But the Brazilian international is not only concerned about events on the pitch...

Neymar is mobbed by members of the public in Rio's Maracana after his starring role -- voted best player in addition to being top goalscorer -- during Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph on home soil last year.

But away from the action, hundreds of thousands took to the streets during last year's Confederations Cup to protest against the World Cup or in favour of more social spending.

Neymar rose to prominence at Pele's former club Santos. In 2010, he led the club to their first Copa Libertadores title since Pele's days, with Neymar scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 aggregate win over Uruguay's Penarol in the final.

World Cup winner Ronaldo, seen here playing for Corinthians against Neymar's Santos in 2009, is one of several individuals involved in the Barca star's business affairs.

Neymar Senior, pictured on the left, represents his son, seen here alongside former Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as well as his onetime playing partner at Santos, Paulo Henrique Ganso.

Neymar waves to the crowds after signing a five-deal with Barcelona, but the full nature of the transfer is now under investigation.

Barcelona have struggled during Neymar's first season at the club, having lost in the Spanish Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid and been knocked out of the Champions League, while a Spanish La Liga title looks unlikely.

The face of the 2014 World Cup?

Golden Boy

Protests

Emulating Pele

Past and Present

Family Affair

'More than a Club'

A bumpy start

HIDE CAPTION

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

>

>>

Neymar: The face of the 2014 World Cup?

Willian escaped his marker on the right before finding Cesar Azpilicueta, who in turn found Torres to fire home from inside the penalty area.

Torres, who began his career at Atletico and scored 84 goals in 214 games for the club before moving to Liverpool in 2007, refused to celebrate but that gesture did not detract from the significance of the strike.

Buoyed by the goal, Chelsea began to take control and with its resilient defense holding Atletico comfortably, the visitors appeared rattled.

But with just a minute of the opening period remaining, the game was turned on its head.

Tiago, once of Chelsea, picked out Juanfran at the far post and when he crossed the ball into the penalty area, Lopez was on hand to steer the ball home.

Mourinho's defense, such an integral part of his side's success, appeared brittle for the first time in the competition and it never really recovered.

Within minutes of the restart, Schwarzer was forced to produce a fine save to deny Turan after the Atletico midfielder had found space inside the penalty area.

While Schwarzer performed heroics at one end, Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, did similar at the other.